Ray Jennings, the former coach of South Africa, says he has declined an offer to coach the Bangladesh national team stating his South African loyalties as the reason.

Jennings said that the Bangladesh Cricket Board contacted him after Dav Whatmore, the current coach, announced that he would step down from the post after India's tour of Bangladesh.

"They called me shortly after the World Cup and asked whether I would be interested in the position," Jennings told Supercricket website. "It is an honour to be approached by such and up-and-coming cricket country but I am a South African through and through and this is where my heart is."

Jennings has instead accepted a post at the national cricket academy in Pretoria for two years and the job of coaching the South African Under-19 side. He coached the South African national team from October 2004 to May 2005 and was replaced by current coach Mickey Arthur after there were reports of a rift between Jennings and senior players in the side.